Fill cap cover



April 30, 1963 J. MILLARD 3,087,641

Fm. QAP COVER Filed Feb. 16, 1961 \'j//. ma

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' v /ww United States Patent each to George L. Fowler and Marie C. Yost, both of Detroit, Mich.

Filed Feb. 16, 1961, Ser. No. 89,856 Claims. (Cl. 220--24.5)

This invention relates to closure members and in particular to sealing covers for closing the ends of tubular enclosures or conduits.

Sealing covers of various types have been developed in the past. However, many of these covers fail to cornpletely prevent fluid leakage from a tubular enclosure or the entrance of dirt, water or other contaminating material into the enclosure.

Another disadvantage of many seal covers is that they become frozen on the tubular enclosure during cold weather so that removal therefrom is very diflicult.

-It is, therefore, an important object of this invention to prevent the escape of fluids, including volatile iiuids, from a conduit and to eliminate the entrance of dirt, Water, or other contaminating material into the conduit. More particularly, it is an object of this invention to prevent escape of vapors from, and the entrance of foreign matter into, the fill conduits of gasoline storage tanks or similar compartments.

A further object is to quickly remove or insert an improved sealing cover on a conduit even when the cover is subjected to freezing weather conditions.

A still further object is to provide an improved, compact, economical sealing cover for conduits which will prevent the escape of volatile fluids over long periods of use.

Further objects, features and advantages 0f this invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following description, the appended claims and the accompanying drawing in which: Y

FIGURE l is a View partially in section and partially in elevation of a sealing cover constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention in combination with la manhole type fill installation;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the sealing cover illustrated in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 with the sealing elements of the cover engaging the sides of the iill conduit; and

FIGURE 4 is a sectional View similar to FIGURE 3 with the sealing elements in a non-sealing position.

Although the inventive principles involved in the sealing cover are applicable to many different types of installations, the cover shown in the illustrated embodiment is especially adapted to conduits such as are found in underground storage installations. In such installations, it is conventional to have a iill pipe or riser which leads upwardly from an underground tank (not shown) to the ground surface. The upper end of the ll pipe 10 extends into an opening 12 formed in a suitable concrete pavement or platform 14. A manholelike cover 16 carried by the pavement 14 completely overlies the opening 12 therein. The arrangement of a recessed opening 12 and manhole cover 16 is required by law in many states where a ll pipe is connected to a container for volatile iiuids.

A sealing cover in accordance with the principles of the present invention is generally designated 18 in the drawing. Such a sealing cover is especially suited for use in combination with a manhole-like iilling installation. However, the inventive sealing cover is equally ef- 3,087,641 Patented Apr. 30, 1963 fective when used with any conduit requiring a positive sealed plug therein.

The sealing cover 18 comprises a rounded cap portion 20 having a transverse groove 22 in its rounded surface and a tab portion 24 formed integrally therewith which has an aperture 26 formed therethrough. An elongated thin wal-led tube 28 fits over a hub portion 30 formed as an integral part of the cap portion 20. The uppermost end of the tube 28 that engages the hub 30 ares radially outwardly to cover an annular fillet portion 34 on the hub 30.

The hub 30 and cap portion 20 receive an annular gasket 36 which is adapted to engage an expandable seal element 38. The seal element 38 is carried at the ared end of the tube 28 and preferably comprises a collar of rubber or similar expandable and resilient material. A metallic collar 40 slidingly engages the outside surface of the tube 28 immediately below the seal collar 38. A seal 42 of rubber or similar expandable and resilient material is slidingly disposed on the tube 28 to carry the metallic collar 40 and the seal collar 33 for vertical movement along the outer surface of the tube 28. The sliding seal 42 has a recess 44 in the inner periphery of its mid-portion which contributes to the overall sealing efficiency of the sealing cover 18 in a manner to be discussed. A bottom lifting cap 46 ts over the bottom end of the tube 28 and engages the bottom portion of sleeve 42 for carrying the seal 42 and collars 38, 40.

A pull rod 48 extends downwardly through an aperture 5l) formed in the cap 2.0` to threadingly engage the cap 46. The threading engagement of the cap 46 with respect to the cap 20 permits adjustment of the spacing therebetween. A cotter pin 52 inserts through the end of the pull rod 48 to lock it in a preselected adjusted position.

The aperture 50 is sealed against uid leakage therethrough by a packing gland arrangement disposed in the upper face of the cap 2l). This gland arrangement consists of a counterbore 54 in the upper face of cap 20 which receives annular packing 56. The packing 56 carries a packing gland 58 that supports a packing gland pressure plate 60. The pressure plate 60 on the cap 20 does not impose a load on the packing 56 and preferably is lmade of a cadmium plated, hardened metal which will not bend or rust.

The packing 56 is compressed or loaded only during periods in which the sealing cover 18 is sealingly engaging the fill pipe 10. Thus the life of the gland arrangement is maximized.

A compression lever 64 has an aperture 66 formed in one end thereof and bifurcated cam portions 68, 69 on the other end thereof which t over the upper end of the pull rod 48. A pin 70 connects the cam portions 68, 69 of the compression lever 64 to the pull rod 48.

The pull rod 48 is squared off at one side 72 to prevent the lever 68 from throwing over to the side of the cap 20 opposite the tab portion 24.

A compression spring 74 is disposed between the hub 30 and the cap 46 for returning the unit to a radially unexpanded or unsealed position.

In use, the aforesaid seal cover is particularly effective in preventing leakage of vapors or fumes from volatile iiuids since the sealing cover 18 provides a plurality `of sealing regions at the end of a fill pipe such as pipe 10. In sealing such a till pipe the sealing cover unit 18 is inserted in the end of the iill pipe 10 with the compression lever 64 in an upright position. In this position the compression lever 64 serves as `a carrying handle and the cam portions 68, 69 move the pull rod 48 downwardly. In this position only the gasket 36 is in engagement with the ll pipe 10.

Having inserted the sealing cover 18 into a fill pipe 10,

the lever 64 is moved against the cap 20 to cause the cam portions 68, 69 to bear against the pressure plate 68 and to move `the pull rod 43 in an upward direction. The sealing cover 18 will tightly seal the conduit 10 when the lever 64 is against the cap 2t). The pressure plate 68 compresses the packing 56 against the pull rod 48 to prevent leakage of vapors or fumes from a volatile fluid from escaping through aperture 50. The upward movement of pull rod 48 causes the bottom lifting cap 46 to engage the sliding seal 42 moving it in an upward direction along the outer Wall of the tube 28 The sliding seal 42 carries the seal collar 38 and metallic collar 40 upwardly causing the seal collar 38 to move radially outwardly along the flared end portion to underlie the gasket 36. The collar 40 is a rigid member to insure that the seal 38 firmly engages the gasket 36. The seal collar 38 and the metallic collar 4t] limit the upward movement of seal 42 causing it to expand radially at the recess 44 and be firmly pressed against the inner wall of the fill pipe 10. At the same time, the upper seal collar 38 moves upwardly and expands radially between the metallic collar 40 and the annular gasket 36 so as to bear firmly against the inner wall of fill pipe 16 and the gasket 36. FlGURE 3 illustrates three distinct and positive seal regions at the end of the fill pipe 10. The first such region is between gasket 36 and seal collar 38 and extends completely around the seal cover unit 18. The second region is between the seal collar 38 and the inner wall of fill cap 1t) and the third region is between the mid-portion of the sliding seal 42 and the fill pipe 10. Such an arrangement not only prevents the escape of vapors or gases from highly volatile uids, but also prevents the entrance of foreign matter into the fill pipe 10. The insertion of a suitable padlock through the apertures 26, 66 will lock the lever 64 to the cap 20 to prevent unauthorized removal of the sealing cover 18 from the till pipe or other tampering with the fill installation.

Furthermore, there are no threads or open joints which can trap water which might freeze to lock the cover 18 in place. The positive seal between the gasket 36 and the seal 38 will lprevent water leakage between the sealing cover 18 and the inner wall of the pipe 10 which could freeze to lock the sealing cover 18 on the pipe 10. Thus, the sealing cover 18 is uniquely suited for use in extremely cold climates. The lever 64 need merely be moved substantially perpendicular to the cap 20 to be used as a handle to dislodge Ithe cover from the end of the fill pipe 10.

The sealing cover 18 also has a warning characteristic when used in combination with a manhole cover-like filling arrangement as illustrated in FIGURE l. In such an arrangement the lever 64 must engage the face of the cap 20 before the manhole cover 16 can be replaced. Thus, if the sealing cover 18 is not in sealing engagement with the inner walls of the pipe 1t) the lever 64 -will be raised away from the face of the cover 20 to prevent the manhole cover 16 from being placed thereover. Such a condition puts a person on notice that the fill pipe 10 is not fully sealed. The square sides 72 on the pull rod 48 will engage the lever 64 to prevent it from moving into a downward disposition in which the sealing cover 18 is not in sealing engagement with the inner wall of pipe 10.

It will be understood that the specific construction of the improved sealing cover which is herein disclosed and described is presented for purposes of explanation and illustration and is not intended to indicate limits of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A removable sealing device for a conduit comprising a top cap member having a gasket face, a tubular member disposed on said top cap member having a radially outwardly ared portion, a gasket disposed between said face and said flared portion adapted to engage the end of said conduit, a rst resilient seal slidingly disposed on said tubular member, a second resilient seal having a recessed mid-portion slidingly disposed on said tubular member, said first and second seals being adapted to engage the inner surface of said conduit when in a radially expanded position, a collar member disposed between said first and seco-nd seals, actuation means including a bottom cap slidingly disposed on said tubular member adjacent said second seal and a pull rod extending through said top cap member operatively connected to said bottom cap for radially expanding said first seal to engage the inner surface of said conduit and said gasket and for radially expanding said second seal to engage the inner surface of said conduit, and spring means disposed between said top cap member and said bottom cap for returning said first and second seals to radially unexpanded positions,

2. A removable sealing device for a conduit comprising a top cap member having a gasket face, a tubular member disposed on said top cap member having a radially outwardly flared portion, a gasket disposed between said face and said flared portion adapted to engage the end of said conduit, a first resilient seal and a second resilient seal slidingly disposed on said tubular member and adapted to engage the inner surface of said conduit when in a radially expanded position, actuation means including a bottom cap slidingly disposed on said tubular member adjacent said second seal and a pull rod extending through said top cap member operatively connected to said bottom cap for radially expanding said first seal to engage the inner surface of said conduit and said gasket and for radially expanding said second seal to engage the inner surface of said conduit, packing means disposed in said top cap member around said pull rod, a pressure plate engaging said packing means, a lever having cam portions thereon, said cam portions operatively connecting to said pull rod and formed to move said pressure plate against said packing means to seal said pull rod when said first and second seals are engaging the inner surface of said conduit, and spring means disposed Ibetween said top cap member and said bottom cap for returning said first and second seals to radially unexpanded positions.

3. A removable sealing device for a conduit comprising a top cap member having a gasket face, a tubular member disposed on said top cap member having a radially outwardly flared portion, a gasket disposed between said face and said flared portion adapted to engage the end of said conduit, a first resilient seal slidingly disposed on said tubular member, a second resilient seal having a recessed mid-portion slidingly disposed on said tubular member, said first and second seals being adapted to engage the inner surface of said conduit when in a radially expanded position, a collar member disposed between said first and second seals, actuation means including a bottom cap slidingly disposed on said tubular member adjacent said second seal and :a pull rod extending through said top cap member operatively connected to said bottom cap for radially expanding said first seal to engage the inner surface of said conduit and said gasket and for radially expanding said second seal to engage the inner surface of said conduit, packing means disposed in said Itop cap member around said pull rod, a pressure plate engaging said packing means, a lever having cam portions thereon, said cam portions operatively connecting to said pull rod and formed to move said pressure plate against said packing means to seal said pull rod when said top and bottom seals `are engaging the inner surface of said conduit, and spring means `disposed between said top cap member and said bottom cap for returning said first and second seals to radially unexpanded positions.

4. A removable sealing device for a conduit comprising a top cap member having a gasket supported thereon adapted to lbe mounted in sealing engagement with the end of the conduit, ia tubular member disposed on said top cap member having a radially outwardly ared portion located adjacent said gasket, a rst resilient seal slidingly dispo-sed on yone end of said tubular member having .a portion thereof overlying said radially outwardly ared portion of said tubular member to be guided thereby into sealing engagement with said gasket when the device is actuated, a second Iresilient seal slidingly disposed on the other end Vof said tubular member being operatively associated With said lirst resilient seal, said rst `and second seals being adapted to enga-ge the inner surface of the conduit when in a radially expanded position, actuation means including a bottom cap slidingly disposed :on said .tubular member for enga-gement with said second seal and a pull rod extending through said top cap member opera-tively connected to said bottom cap and being adapted to move said bottom cap into engagement with said second resilient seal for radially expanding said rst and second resilient seals into engagement with the inner surface of the conduit land vfor moving said rst resilient seal into sealing engagement with said gasket.

5. A removable sealing device for 1a conduit comprising a top cap member having Ia gasket supported thereon adapted to be mounted in sealing engagement with the end of the conduit, a tubular member disposed on said top cap member having a radially outwardly flared portion located adjacent said gasket, -a lirst resilient seal slidingly disposed on one end of said tubular member having a portion thereof overlying said radially outwardly flared portion of said tubular member to be guided thereby into sealing engagement with said gasket when the device is actuated, a second resilient seal slidingly disposed on the other end of 4said tubular member, said rst and sec-ond seals being adapted to engage the inner surf-ace of the conduit when in a radially expanded position, a collar member slidably disposed on said tubular member between said first and second seals being operatively associated therewith, actuation mean-s including a bottom cap slidingly disposed on said tubular member for engagement with said second seal and a pull rod extending through said top cap member operatively connected to said bottom cap and being adapted .to move said bottom cap yinto engagement with said second resilient seal for radially expanding said rst and second resilient seals into engagement with the inner surface ofthe conduit 4and for moving said rst resilient seal into sealing eng-agement with said gasket.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,306,699 Johnson Dec. 29, 1942 2,685,379 Moeller Aug. 3, 19'54- 2,923,323 Franck Feb. 2, 1960 2,966,277 Bean Dec. 27, 1960 

1. A REMOVABLE SEALING DEVICE FOR A CONDUIT COMPRISING A TOP CAP MEMBER HAVING A GASKET FACE, A TUBULAR MEMBER DISPOSED ON SAID TOP CAP MEMBER HAVING A RADIALLY OUTWARDLY FLARED PORTION, A GASKET DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID FACE AND SAID FLARED PORTION ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE END OF SAID CONDUIT, A FIRST RESILIENT SEAL SLIDINGLY DISPOSED ON SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, A SECOND RESILIENT SEAL HAVING A RECESSED MID-PORTION SLIDINGLY DISPOSED ON SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, SAID FIRST AND SECOND SEALS BEING ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID CONDUIT WHEN IN A RADIALLY EXPANDED POSITION, A COLLAR MEMBER DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECOND SEALS, ACTUATION MEANS INCLUDING A BOTTOM CAP SLIDINGLY DISPOSED ON SAID TUBULAR MEMBER ADJACENT SAID SECOND SEAL AND A PULL ROD EXTENDING THROUGH SAID TOP CAP MEMBER OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID BOTTOM CAP FOR RADIALLY EXPANDING SAID FIRST SEAL TO ENGAGE THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID CONDUIT AND SAID GASKET AND FOR RADIALLY EXPANDING SAID SECOND SEAL TO ENGAGE THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID CONDUIT, AND SPRING MEANS DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID TOP CAP MEMBER AND SAID BOTTOM CAP FOR RETURNING SAID FIRST AND SECOND SEALS TO RADIALLY UNEXPANDED POSITIONS. 